Advertisement

Gophers and P.J. Fleck have no-drama win over Jerry Kill’s New Mexico State

Andy Greder, Pioneer Press
·4 min read
2

The Gophers’ season opener on Thursday had a C-130 military airplane rumble overhead and Air Force paratroopers glide down onto Huntington Bank Stadium.

The other sideshow — Jerry Kill vs. P.J. Fleck — reached détente.

Kill had criticized Fleck over the years and said he didn’t know if he would shake Fleck’s hand on game day, but there they were near midfield an hour before the game, shaking hands not once, but twice. Fleck put his arm around Kill as they chatted for a 90 seconds.

When Kill, who coached Minnesota from 2011-15, took the New Mexico State job in November and looked ahead to this season, he anticipated he would get booed by fans for his smack talk. As his team left the tunnel, a hype video drowned out any initial reaction. Around the coin toss, fans shared a brief chorus of boos. It was barely a blip.

The game itself wasn’t very contentious, either. Minnesota, a 36.5-point favorite, ran over New Mexico State in a 38-0 victory.

Fleck and Kill shook hands again postgame and walked together for 10 yards before parting ways. No drama.

Fleck said he always shakes hands with the opposing coach before the game, believing it upholds the game’s tradition. “I respect this game wholeheartedly; I respect Jerry Kill wholeheartedly,” Fleck said postgame. “… I never said one thing ever negative about Jerry Kill. In fact, my opening press conference, I said I’m a Jerry Kill guy.

“… I told him, ‘Thank you for all you’ve done in my career. I said I’ve always had the utmost respect for you and I always will,’ ” Fleck recalled. “Simple as that.”

Kill complimented the Gophers’ team and encouraged people to donate to Fleck’s foundation before reflecting on the past.

“Sometimes in the heat of the battle, and some of the things that happened, when you have your best friend (Tracy Claeys) get fired, I don’t know, Tracy went what 9-(4), I don’t remember, I think you react,” Kill said. “… But I’m very happy that (Fleck) has taken it and continued to build and taken it to the next level.”

While Kill tried to call out Fleck’s “ego,” Fleck showed sympathy toward Kill. “I appreciate Jerry’s passion because I know how bad Jerry loves this place. The one thing I’ll say is, so do I. I know how he feels because I want to be here. It’s a very special place to me and I couldn’t imagine not being here. When you’re not here and it’s not by necessarily your choice, it’s maybe a choice you have to make outside of that, that can be very difficult. I don’t judge people on that.”

While Kill and Fleck bridged their gap, there was a gulf between their teams. Minnesota’s offense scored on its opening six possessions; New Mexico State was limited to two first downs through three quarters. Minnesota had 485 total yards to 91 for New Mexico State.

The game was so lopsided that Goldy The Gopher chasing a fellow rodent, a live and loose squirrel running on the field between the first and second quarter, had a viral nature.

With the prospect of being accused of running up the score, Fleck kept the ball on the ground the majority of the game, with 57 rushes to 23 passes. Offensive backups trickled into the game as the second half progressed.

Tanner Morgan had two 1-yard rushing touchdowns, including one midway through the third quarter to put Minnesota up 31-0. The Gophers had two holding penalties for a second-and-26, but that hole didn’t hold them back much.

Mo Ibrahim led way with 132 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries; he sat back and watched midway through the third quarter. Ibrahim moved up the Gophers rushing record book with his two first-half touchdowns. He tied Marion Barber Jr. with his 34th TD in the first quarter and then tied the late Marion Barber III with his 35th score early in the second quarter.

The Gophers dominated the first half, leading 24-0, and outgaining the Aggies 274-49. The gulf continued to widen in the second half.

The level of competition won’t increase next week, when FCS-level Western Illinois comes to Minnesota. The Leathernecks gave up 577 yards in a 42-25 road loss to Tennessee Martin on Thursday and their coach has no known connection to Minnesota.

Related Articles